Shotgun pattern control tube



Nov. 15, 1966 w. w. MOSELEY 3,284,942

SHOTGUN PATTERN CONTROL TUBE Filed Aug. 26, 1965 William W. MoseleyINVENTOR.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,284,942 Patented Nov. 15, 1966 3,284,942SHOTGUN PATTERN CONTROL TUBE William W. Moseley, 913 N. 11th Ave.,Pensacola, Fla. Filed Aug. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 482,742 4 Claims. (Cl.42-79) The present invention generally relates to an attachment for themuzzle end of a shotgun barrel and more particularly relates to apattern control tube in the form of a spreader tube.

An object of the present invention is to provide a control sleeve ortube which increases in diameter from the end of the gun barrel axiallyoutwardly with the expansion contour being uniform to provide uniformspreading or expansion of the shot so that the pattern of the shot asthey reach the target will be more uniform throughout the pattern areaand the pattern area will be accurately controlled.

The pattern control tube of the present invention is attached to themuzzle end of a shotgun barrel by axial screw-threaded attachment to thebarrel or by the use of an adapter connected to the barrel with the tubescrewthreadedly attached to the adapter and having an internal diameterat its inner end substantially equal to the intern-a1 diameter of theshotgun barrel at its muzzle end thus producing a smooth transition fromthe internal diameter of the shotgun barrel at the muzzle end to thespreader tube where it joins with the muzzle end of the shotgun barrelwith the diameter of the spreader tube then increasing uniformly to thedischarge end of the spreader tube. The specific degree of taperincorporated into the the present invention is such that it will causethe shot column to expand at a uniform rate for the purpose of providinga controlled pattern of shot at a target with the density of the shot inthe pattern at the target being more uniform and accurately controlled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shotgun patterncontrol unit in the form of a sleeve or tube which tapers outwardly onthe inner diameter thereof but which may be substantially cylindrical onthe exterior and provides a compact attachment which is relativelystreamlined and enhances the appearance characteristics of a gun. Thetube of the present invention is quite simple and uncomplicated inconstruction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easilyattached to the barrel of a gun by gun manufacturers, gunsmiths orothers desiring to install the device in place.

Essentially, the present invention employs only the uniform expansion ofthe shot column and provides no constriction whatsoever but only acontinuous and uniform contour of expansion from the muzzle end of theshotgun barrel to the muzzle end of the spreader tube.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the are companying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating the shotgun pattern controltube of the present invention attached to the muzzle end of a shotgunbarrel;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 but illustrating thethreaded connection between the spreader tube and an adapter attached tothe shotgun barrel; and

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 illustrating thestructural details of the pattern tube.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the shotgun pattern control tube of the present inventionwhich is attached to the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel 12 which is ofconventional construction. A cylindrical adapter 14 is provided forattachment of the control tube and the adapter 14 is attached to themuzzle end of the barrel 12 in any suitable manner such as welding orthe like in a known manner in which attachments are applied to shotgunbarrels by gunsmiths and the like. The adapter 14 has an externallythreaded portion 16 at its outer end with the threaded portion 16 beingof reduced diameter and the inner limit threof being defined by ashoulder 18. The end of the adapter 14 is coextensive with and flushwith the end of the barrel 12. Also, the adapter 14 is provided with abead sight 20 attached thereto in a conventional manner such as by ascrew-threaded connection 22 thus forming the front sight for theshotgun in a conventional manner. Essentially, the threaded portion 16of the adapter 14 is necessary for attaching the control tube and thisthreaded adapter may be provided in any suitable manner and may even beformed directly on the end of the shotgun barrel during the manufacturethereof or by a gunsmith.

The control tube 10 includes an elongated tubular member 24 having asubstantially elongated cylindrical external surface with a largersurface 26 formed at the inner end thereof and being internally threadedat 28 for detachable screw-threaded engagement with the threaded portion16 of the adapter 14. The internal threads 28 are formed in acounterbore with a shoulder 30 being defined at the inner end thereoffor abutting engagement of the shoulder 30 with the flush ends of thebarrel 12 and adapter 14, as illustrated in FIGURE 3. The internal bore32 of the tubular member 24 increases in diameter from a smallerdiameter A at the end thereof which abuts against the muzzle end of agun barrel to a larger diameter B at the discharge end or muzzle end ofthe tubular member 24 with the tubular member 24 having the bore 32provided with a length C. The internal bore diameter increases uniformlythroughout the length C from the smaller diameter A to the largerdiameter B. The dimensions, of course, will vary depending upon thegauge of the shotgun barrel and depending upon the distance to thetarget and the shot pattern desired at the tar-get.

More effective performance of the shotgun as to the shot pattern at thetarget is accomplished by the spreader tube of the present invention bywhat is believed to be a slight relieving of the shot column ofunnecessary pressure at a critical point thus lessening distortion ofthe shot column. This device employs a simple, uniform and relativelysmall expansion for the purpose of relieving the shot column pressureand it is believed that this relief lessens distortion and better shotpatterns result from the use of the spreader tube of this invention.

In extensive tests conducted with the pattern control tube, it has beenfound that a significant increase in percentage of shot hitting a givenarea of a target has been consistently obtained. The construction of thecontrol tube is such that it adds very little weight to the muzzle endof the barrel. For example, the weight added will be in the nature ofthree to four ounces depending upon the dimensions of the patterncontrol tube. An example of the dimensions is the provision of anover-all length of three and one-half inches to the tubular member 24but with the dimension C being three inches, the dimension A being .730inch and dimension B being .745 inch thus providing a uniform expansionof .005 inch per linear inch for the three inch length of bore 32. Thesedimensions are optimum for at twelve gauge gun. As will be appreciated,these dimensions will vary depending upon the gauge of the shotgun.

As an example of the variations, the control tube may range between athree-quarter inch length and a six inch length and range from .001 inchincrease in diameter per linear inch to .01 inch-increase in diameterper linear inch. The material from which the control tube of the presentinvention is constructed may be the same or compatible with materialsnormally employed in shotgun barrel structures. In all instances whereinthe control tube has been tested with a uniform expansion rate, therehas been a marked and definite increase in the percentage of shothitting a given circular target with the pattern of the increased numberof shot in the circular target area also being more uniformlydistributed. The control tube should be secured against working loose onthe adapter by use of a suitable screw. A small headed screw can be usedwhen skeet shooting or quail hunting and no changes are anticipated.However, when dove, duck or other type shooting is also contemplated alarge knurled head with a wide kerf should be used to facilitate thechanging of control tubes While in the field. The retaining screw willbe at the bottom of the adapter and will penetrate the adapter but notthe barrel.

This control tube is specifically constructed for skeet and uplandshooting at ranges from 12 to 30 yards, where it contributes to uniformnon-mutilating performance out to 18 yards, retaining sufficient densityand uniformity for regular target breaking or bird killing patterns onout to approximately 30 yards.

The adapter 14 as disclosed may take many shapes, forms andconfigurations and generally may be a connector, union, sleeve orequivalent device.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling with the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is described as new is as follows:

1. An attachment for a shotgun barrel having a muzzle end comprising atubular member adapted to be attached to the shotgun in alignment withand as an extension of the muzzle end of the barrel, said tubular memberhaving an internal bore extending throughout the length thereof with theend of the bore adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel having adiameter substantially equal thereto and the internal diameter of thebore of the tubular member uniformly increasing throughout the lengththereof with the cross-sectional configuration of the internal borebeing identical throughout its length, a cylindrical adapter adapted tobe attached to the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel, said adapter havinga threaded portion of reduced diameter, said tubular member having aninternally threaded portion of increased diameter as compared with theinternal bore thereof for screw-threaded engagement with the adapter,said tubular member having a length within the range of three-quarterinch to six inches and uniformly increases in diameter from .001 inchper linear inch to .01 inch per linear inch.

2. The attachment as defined in claim 1 'Wherein said tubular member forattachment to a twelve gauge shotgun barrel has a minor diameter of .730inch and a major diameter of .745 inch and is provided with a three inchinternal bore thereby providing a uniform expansion in diameter of .005inch per linear inch.

3. An attachment for the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel for providingcontour control comprising a tubular member adapted to be attached tothe shotgun in alignment with and as an extension of the muzzle and ofthe barrel, said tubular member having a continuous internal bore ofcircular cross-section extending throughout the length thereof with theend of the bore adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgun barrel having aninternal diameter substantially equal to the barrel bore diameter, theinternal diameter of the bore through the tubular member uniformlyincreasing throughout the length thereof, the major diameter of theinternal bore of the tubular member remote from the shotgun barrel beingsubstantially equal to the shotgun barrel bore plus an increase indiameter to provide a uniform expansion range within .001 to .01 inchper linear inch, the length of said tubular member being not less thanthree-quarter inch and not more than six inches.

4. The contour control attachment of claim 3 wherein said tubular memberincludes means on the end thereof adjacent the muzzle end of the shotgunbarrel for attachment to the shotgun barrel, said means including anaxial extension on the tubular member having an internal diametergreater than the internal diameter of the bore adjacent the muzzle endof the shotgun barrel and defining a shoulder at the inner end thereoffor engagement with the muzzle end of a shotgun barrel when the axialextension on the tubular member is telescoped over the muzzle end of theshotgun barrel, and means securing the axial extension fixedly inrelation to the shotgun barrel with the longitudinal axis of theinternal bore of the tubular member aligned with the longitudinal axisof the shotgun barrel bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 927,572 7/1909Michand 4279 1,227,987 5/1917 Wright 4279 3,029,540 4/1962 Pachmayr42-79 3,226,871 1/1966 Sargeant et a1. 42--79 SAMUEL FEINBERG, PrimaryExaminer.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Examiner. s. W. ENGLE s is nt E aminer.

1. AN ATTACHMENT FOR A SHOTGUN BARREL HAVING A MUZZLE END COMPRISING ATUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SHOTGUN IN ALIGNMENT WITHAND AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MUZZLE END OF THE BARREL, SAID TUBULAR MEMBERHAVING AN INTERNAL BORE EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH THEREOF WITH THEEND OF THE BORE ADJACENT THE MUZZLE END OF THE SHOTGUN BARREL HAVING ADIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL THERETO AND THE INTERNAL DIAMETER OF THEBORE OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER UNIFORMLY INCREASING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTHTHEREOF WITH THE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONFIGURATION OF THE INTERNAL BOREBEING IDENTICAL THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH, A CYLINDRICAL ADAPTER ADAPTED TOBE ATTACHED TO THE MUZZLE END OF THE SHOTGUN BARREL, SAID ADAPTER HAVINGA THREADED PORTION OF REDUCED DIAMETER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ANINTERNALLY THREADED PORTION OF INCREASED DIAMETER AS COMPARED WITH THEINTERNAL BORE THEREOF FOR SCREW-THREADED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ADAPTER,SAID TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A LENGTH WITHIN THE RANGE OF THREE-QUARTERINCH TO SIX INCHES AND UNIFORMLY INCREASES IN DIAMETER FROM .001 INCHPER LINEAR INCH TO .01 INCH PER LINEAR INCH.